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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the initial part of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement is close to conclusion, noting that the subsequent phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would discuss the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to finish the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the equivalent objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

During the first phase of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these steps is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.

Potential Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the moment.”